Veress needle with illuminated guidance and suturing capability

ABSTRACT

A laparoscopic instrument for forming an incision in a body cavity, insufflating the body cavity with gas, and suturing the incision at the completion of the surgery includes a set of jaws at the distal end of the Veress needle or cannula. The jaws are pivoted to one another for motion between an open position or a closed position in which they may be used to grasp a suture in the body cavity for removal from the cavity for knotting. A push mechanism at the proximal end of the instrument moves the jaws between their open and closed position on successive actuations of a pushbutton and retains them in that state until the next push. An illumination source is provided for the distal end of the instrument to provide illumination through the walls of the body cavity so that the surgeon can determine the degree of penetration of the instrument into the body cavity and can identify any major arteries which should be avoided in the formation of other laparoscopic openings.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/146,974 filed Jan. 23, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an instrument for use in the practice of laparoscopic surgery and more particularly to such a device which has utility in forming an incision, insufflating the underlying body cavity and suturing the incision at the completion of the surgery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the practice of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery it is common to make a small incision through the skin and underlying tissue of the patient adjacent the internal surgical site using a Veress needle. These needles include a tubular outer cannula with a sharpened distal end and an inner hollow cylindrical needle which terminates in a blunt end. A spring assembly urges the needle to a position in which the blunt end of the needle is extended beyond the cutting edge of the cannula. When the instrument is pressed against the skin of the patient the blunt end is resisted by the skin so that the outer cannula moves over the blunt end and forms a small incision in the skin and underlying tissue of the patient. When the pressure on the Veress needle is removed, the needle slides forward, leaving a blunt end within the body of the patient, so that the accidental cutting of underlying organs is avoided.

The Veress needle typically includes means for introducing pressurized gas, usually CO₂, into the proximal end of the needle so that the gas is passed on into the laparoscopic incision and inflates the body cavity to allow easy access to the surgical site. A trocar which surrounds the cannula and frames the proximal side of the incision may be left in place after the cannula is withdrawn to provide an instrument port with a seal to prevent the escape of the insufflating gas.

After formation of a first incision and insufflation of the body cavity, a second incision, nearby but spaced apart from the first incision, is formed and typically used for insertion of a remote imaging endoscope to allow the surgeon to visualize the internal surgical site. A third incision allows the insertion of an operating instrument.

When the surgery is completed it is necessary to suture one or more of the laparoscopic incisions. Suturing typically involves an instrument that can carry a suture thread into the body cavity and allow the thread to be pulled outwardly through the incision. At the proximal side of the surgical site two ends of the suture are knotted together to secure the incision.

One problem associated with the use of such Veress needle assemblies is determining when the needle has progressed through the wall of the body cavity and its distal end has emerged within the cavity. Additionally, there is a need to determine the location of significant blood vessels in the cavity wall so that the incision made by the needle, as well as the additional incisions necessary to perform the surgery, can be made without cutting these vessels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the invention, which will subsequently be disclosed in detail, comprises a Veress needle in which the central tube or the rod of the needle supports a grasper at its distal end comprising a pair of pivoted forceps jaws which are normally retained in a closed position by a spring, but may be opened by manual pressure applied to a button at the proximal end of the needle. By opening the jaws, positioning them about a suture line, and depressing the button again, to cause the jaws to clamp on the suture line, a suture may be secured and one end of the suture may be carried externally of the incision by withdrawing the needle.

In another embodiment of the present invention the distal end of the central tube of the Veress needle terminates in a “crochet hook” end facing the proximal end of the needle. The instrument and the suture may be manipulated so that the suture is caught within the hook and drawn out of the incision when the Veress needle is removed. The distal end also has a needle hole through which a suture thread may be passed to carry it into the body cavity.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a cam mechanism supported at the proximal end of the instrument which allows the two jaws which make up the hook to be disposed in either an open position, in which the jaws are separated, or a closed position in which the jaws are closed, or closed about a suture. The mechanism includes a button at the proximal end of the instrument which may be depressed to move the hook between its opened and closed positions. With each depression, the hook is moved between its open and closed positions and remains in that state until the button is again depressed, moving the jaws to the other position. This allows a surgeon to manipulate the present instrument with a single hand.

Another aspect of the present invention, illustrated in connection with another embodiment of the invention, comprises an illuminating system for incorporation in a Veress needle assembly which allows the surgeon to visualize the progress of the trocar in forming a laparoscopic incision; aids in the visualization of major blood vessels in the incision area; and, in certain embodiments, provides illumination of the insufflated body cavity to aid in endoscopic visualization of the cavity. These illuminating systems can be incorporated in conventional Veress needle devices as well as the version incorporating the suturing capability.

The illumination system typically employs a bright, small, illumination source such as an LED, although a conventional laser separated from the needle may provide the illumination through an optical fiber. The LED may be located at the proximal end of the Veress needle and cooperate with a hollow tube of a light-conducting plastic such as Lucite, which may form part of the outer cannula, having an appended sharpened end formed of either metal or the tube plastic at its distal end.

In still another embodiment the light source could be located adjacent to the distal end of the cannula and powered by electrical leads passing through the cannula from the proximal end.

The illumination at the distal end of the needle allows the position of the distal end to be visualized by the surgeon through the translucent body tissues. That is, the light from the distal end will pass through the body tissues and allow the surgeon to observe the distal tip of the trocar to determine when it clears the inner wall of the body cavity. It will also aid in identification of major blood vessels which might interfere with the formation of additional incisions required for laparoscopic surgery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description. The description makes reference to the accompany drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a preferred embodiment of the instrument, with the suture engaging jaws in an open position;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view along line 1A of FIG. 1 illustrating the hook opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 with the end hook in a closed position;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through the device of FIG. 2 along line 2A, again illustrating the hook unlocking and opening mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating its operation as a Veress needle forming an incision through a body cavity;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the instrument showing it penetrating wall of a body cavity;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the instrument of the present invention showing it grasping a suture;

FIG. 6 is a perspective, partially broken-away view of the end hook opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the hook-actuating mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partially broken away, of an alternative embodiment of the invention, comprising an LED positioned at the proximal end; and

FIG. 9 is a side view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of the invention comprising an LED positioned at the distal end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, acts as a Veress needle to form an incision into a body cavity, as an insufflator to inject gas into the cavity, and as a suture manipulator to close up the incisions made during the endoscopic process.

The instrument, generally indicated at 10, has a handle 12 at the proximal end, which supports one end of the Veress needle, constituting an elongated cannula tube 14 with a sharpened trocar 16 at the distal end. A tubular needle having a diameter complementary to the diameter of the cannula 14 is supported within the cannula.

The distal end of the needle 18 carries one fixed jaw 20 of a suture engaging jaw set. The other jaw member 22 is pivotably connected to the jaw 20 at pivot point 24. A lever arm 26 formed on the jaw 22 connects to one end of a rod 28 which passes through the center of the needle with its proximal end terminating in the handle area 12 at an extension and retraction mechanism which will be subsequently described. When the mechanism extends the rod 28, the jaw 22 moves into a closed position with respect to the jaw 20, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. When the mechanism retracts the rod 28, the jaws are opened as shown in FIG. 1.

The ends of the jaws 20 and 22 are rounded and blunt. The needle 18 is biased toward the distal end of the cannula 14 by a spring 21 supported in the handle area 12 so that the hook formed by the sections 20 and 22 projects out of the distal end of the cannula. When the instrument 10 is pressed against a wall 32 of a body cavity, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, and the hook ends are closed, they are forced upwardly against the spring 21 by the contact with the surface of the cavity 32. Thus the sharpened trocar end 16 is forced downwardly beyond the jaws and forms an incision in the body wall 32, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

The body cavity 34 may then be insufflated by gas, preferably CO₂, passed through a valve 38 into the interior of the central needle, through the needle, and out the distal end.

The position of the rod 28, which moves the hook between the open and closed positions, is controlled by an extension-retraction mechanism located within the handle 12. A button 42 at the proximal end of the instrument may be depressed by the thumb of the surgeon while two fingers are engaged around the wings 44 of the instrument. The button is normally biased toward extension by a spring 46. The mechanism, which is of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,998, the contents of which are hereby incorporated for reference, includes a plunger 50 having an extension 52 at its top end. The plunger moves within a central bore 54 formed in the handle member 12. The opposite end of the plunger 50 includes six laterally extending guides 56 which interact with rails 58 formed on the interior of the cavity 54. The interaction between the guides 56 and the rails 58 restrains the plunger toward longitudinal, non-rotational movement within the handle cavity 54.

A ratchet 60 has a hub 62 from which three guides 64 extend radially. The ratchet 60 has a stem portion 66 which fits within a central void 68 in the plunger 50. Tapered teeth on the upper sides of the three guides 64 engage tapered surfaces on the lower ends of the teeth 58. Thus, when ratchet 60 is inserted into the bore 68 of the plunger 50, the tapered teeth of the plunger and of the ratchet will engage each other and align the parts.

The design of the teeth on the plunger 50, the ratchet 60, and the mechanism on the interior of the interior bore 54 and handle member 12 cause the ratchet 60 to rotate slightly when released from the teeth 58 upon depression of the pushbutton 42 against the upper surface of the plunger 50 and to rotate again when the pushbutton is released so that the teeth 64 engage the teeth 58. The ratchet teeth alternately move from a first position on the teeth 58 into a second position where the teeth 64 slide into the slots between the teeth 58. The ratchet rotates slightly when depressed by the plunger 50 and again on the teeth 58 when the plunger is withdrawn, causing a circular movement that permits the rod 28 to be extended and retracted, thus closing and opening the jaws 20 and 22 and retaining them in that position until the next depression of the pushbutton 42.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. This version provides a light source at the lower end of a clear polymer rod or tube 80, which extends within a stainless steel hollow tube 82 with a sharp tip 84 on its distal end. A spring 86 biases the interior rod 80 into a position in which its distal end extends outwardly from the tip 84, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Again, when the rounded end of the fiber optic tube 80 is pressed against the body cavity, the tube 80 retracts against the spring and allows the sharp tip to cut into a body cavity and reach an operating site.

The tip of the polymer rod 80 is formed with a hook “crochet needle” notch 90, which is adapted to catch a suture and allow it to be withdrawn from the body cavity, as well as a needle hole 91 for carrying a suture into the body cavity.

An illumination source 92, preferably taking the form of an LED, is disposed in the proximal end of the instrument within a housing 94.

A battery 96 is also supported in the housing and is connected by leads 98 to the LED 92 through an on-off switch 99. The light from the LED is gathered by a surface 100 and transmitted through the polymer rod 80. The distal end of the rod is polished to produce a light output at that end. The housing 94 is equipped with a gas intake tube 102 and a gas valve 104 to allow the insufflation of a body cavity after penetration by the tube 82.

As the surgeon penetrates the body cavity with the device, the polished tip of the rod 80 will provide illumination that is visible through the translucent walls of the cavity, indicating to the surgeon the location of the tip. The surgeon can use that to determine when the device has penetrated into the body cavity and also to identify any major arteries in the cavity wall which should be avoided in the formation of additional laparoscopic openings.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the invention, generally similar to the device of FIG. 8, with the exception of the fact that the LED 110 is located on the distal tip of the rod 80 and is powered through conductors 112 from a battery 114 supported at the proximal end.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, not shown, a laser of some form other than an LED can be disposed externally of the laparoscopic instrument and the illumination source can be provided by a fiber optic leading from that laser to the desired location of the illumination source. 

Having thus disclosed my invention I claim:
 1. A device for use in laparoscopic surgery adapted to form an incision in a body cavity, insufflate the cavity with gas through the incision, and draw sutures through the incision to close off the incision, comprising: an elongated cannula having a handle at a proximal end and a sharpened trocar at a distal end; a tubular Veress needle having a proximal end and a distal end supported within the cannula; a pair of suture-engaging jaws disposed at the distal end of the Veress needle; a gas valve for introduction of gas at the proximal end of the Veress needle for passage through an incision formed by the trocar into a body cavity; a control wire connecting the suture-engaging jaws to the proximal end of the cannula; and a pushbutton actuated extension-retraction mechanism connected to the control wire at the proximal end of the cannula and adapted to move the control wire between extended and retracted positions and to retain it in a given position until the pushbutton is again actuated, to thus open and close the jaws and to retain the jaws in such opened or closed position until the next actuation of the pushbutton.
 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising an illumination source disposed at the proximal end of the device and said cannula is formed of light-conducting plastic which carries the illumination to the distal end of the device.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising an illumination source operative to provide illumination to the distal end of the device through a clear polymer Veress needle.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which the illumination source is an LED.
 5. A device for use in laparoscopic surgery adapted to form an incision in a body cavity, insufflate the cavity with gas through the incision, and draw sutures through the incision to close off the incision, comprising: an elongated cannula having a handle at a proximal end and a sharpened trocar at the distal end; a tubular Veress needle having a proximal end and a distal end supported within the cannula; a pair of suture-engaging jaws disposed at the distal end of the Veress needle; a gas valve for introduction of gas at the proximal end of the Veress needle for passage through an incision formed by the trocar into a body cavity; a control wire connecting the suture-engaging jaws to the proximal end of the cannula; and a pushbutton actuated extension-retraction mechanism connected to the control wire at the proximal end of the cannula and adapted to move the control wire between extended and retracted positions and to retain it in a given position until the pushbutton is again actuated, to thus open and close the jaws and to retain the jaws in such opened or closed position until the next actuation of the pushbutton, said extension-retraction mechanism consisting of a rotatably supported ratchet member caused to move between rotating positions in which the control wire is either extended or retracted between successive depressions of the pushbutton.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cannula is formed of light conducting plastic and an illumination source is disposed at the proximal end of the cannula operative to transmit light to the distal end of the device which is visible at the proximal end of the device to allow determination of the position of the distal end within an operating site in a body cavity. 